Dayly Designhttp://sapacap.com/dayly-designDayly Design - the blog of Dr. William E. Day, Executive Director of the American Council on Alcohol Problemsccorley@alcap.comit@thrive.amen-USMon, 09 May 2016 14:47:46 GMTMon, 09 May 2016 14:47:46 GMTThrive 1.0http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssYouth At Risk #2http://sapacap.com/dayly-design/youth-at-risk-2<p>Recently, I was involved in an open discussion in Kentucky and the young lady who introduced me said, &ldquo;This man probable knows more about teenage suicide than anyone in our state.&rdquo;&nbsp; Then she looked at me and said, &ldquo;Isn&rsquo;t that right?&rdquo;&nbsp; I responded by saying, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know how you measure something like that.&rdquo;&nbsp; I became interested in this issue through the back door, or the side door.</p>
<p>I was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a few years ago at the invitation of a high-school teacher who was a dear friend.&nbsp; As part of the school&rsquo;s administration he said, &ldquo;Hey, we&rsquo;ve got a problem.&nbsp; Can you help us?&rdquo;&nbsp; I asked, &ldquo;What&rsquo;s taking place?&rdquo;&nbsp; He said, &ldquo;In the last three weeks we have had two students who died from suicide.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Now, this is a school of about 1,000 enrollment.&nbsp; Of course, I know nothing about any of those events.&nbsp; He then went on to say, &ldquo;Not only were these events tragic, but in the same three-week period, we have had five attempted suicides that resulted in extended hospitalization.&rdquo;&nbsp; I replied, &ldquo;That&rsquo;s terrible.&nbsp; You get the students together and I&rsquo;ll be there.&rdquo;&nbsp; He then interrupted, &ldquo;No, you don&rsquo;t understand.&nbsp; We don&rsquo;t want you to talk to the students.&nbsp; We want you to talk to the faculty.&nbsp; We have a major crisis taking place here.&nbsp; Our faculty is totally demoralized.&nbsp; They can&rsquo;t help our students because they themselves need help!&rdquo;&nbsp; I ended up spending two days with the faculty of that high school.&nbsp; I commended the principal and the faculty because they united and did a terrific job in assisting their students.&nbsp; To my knowledge from that day until the present, there has not been another suicide attempt at that particular high school.</p>
<p>I came back to my office in Birmingham after working through this difficult situation and shared with my wife what had happened and she quickly pointed out, &ldquo;We have the same problem here.&rdquo;&nbsp; Parents, teachers and church youth workers are all concerned about the suicide issue facing young people in their care.&nbsp; We do have a problem and it is getting worse not better.&nbsp; So what are we going to do about it?</p>
<p>My orientation in life is always to do something, go forth, charge that hill, put forth an effort, and don&rsquo;t just sit there in a passive motif.&nbsp; My back-ground, my perspective is to act.&nbsp; I began to call and check with leaders and agencies in our area, and their response was, &ldquo;Oh, it&rsquo;s just a trend.&nbsp; It will pass.&rdquo;&nbsp; Another group told me, &ldquo;It is a serious task, we&rsquo;ll form a committee.&rdquo;&nbsp; I said, &ldquo;No, you don&rsquo;t understand!&nbsp; These young people are dying.&nbsp; We must be proactive.&nbsp; Now is the time!&rdquo;&nbsp; They reminded me, &ldquo;This takes time, a long time.&nbsp; We will have to collect our statistics and data.&nbsp; We will have to do a survey and study.&rdquo;&nbsp; Well you can imagine that didn&rsquo;t sit well with me.&nbsp; I got in touch with school leaders and we started our own suicide prevention program.</p>
<p>What I want to do with you and your community is to challenge you to get excited.&nbsp; Begin to pull together with those in your geographical area.&nbsp; Look for your member of Congress, the Mayor, the Chief of Police and the pastors of major churches in your community and in a dynamic and synergistic effort begin to believe that great things in prevention are going to happen.&nbsp; They will!</p>
<p>Next, we will deal with the factors that foster suicide among teenagers.</p>
Mon, 09 May 2016 14:47:35 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/youth-at-risk-2Youth At Riskhttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/youth-at-risk<p>In the past two years I have spoken throughout our geographical area about the crisis of teenage suicide and its national impact upon the present generation and the ability to cope with the immediate demands of our culture.</p>
<p>First of all, let&rsquo;s explore the kind of issues involved in this expansive discussion.&nbsp; In the next hour, following your reading of this material 338 teenagers will attempt to take their lives, if national statistics are valid.&nbsp; These calculations come from the National Youth Suicide Prevention Center in Washington, D.C., which is government-sponsored.&nbsp; They are empirical results of work done by Dr. Seymour Peden, professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University.</p>
<p>Three million teenagers attempted suicide in 2014.&nbsp; The National Institute of Mental Health projects that number will be higher in 2015 if current trends continue.&nbsp; Our nation&rsquo;s focus is presently centered on this pervasive problem.&nbsp; Tragedies abound in our major cities and remote rural areas, but we are just entering the peak months of teenage suicide.&nbsp; These are April and May, so we are on the edge of demise in these destructive happenings in America.</p>
<p>In 2014, 8,000 adolescents died.&nbsp; In a recent conversation with a person at the National Institute of Mental Health, I was informed that if current trends continue, teenage suicide could surpass accidental deaths related to alcoholism and drug abuse and become the number one cause of death among our teenagers.&nbsp; Among adults in the last five years, the suicide rate has decreased.&nbsp; Among teenagers, it has increased from the fifth leading cause of death to the number one cause of premature death in the United States.&nbsp; So the catastrophic rush to death continues to grow beyond belief.</p>
<p>In the last seven years in the area of Alabama where I reside, I have seen teenagers, through surveys, studies and questionnaires; with individuals with whom I have counseled; and when speaking in Kentucky and Tennessee and I was amazed at the responses to some of their concerns.&nbsp; When I asked young people, 12-14 years of age, &ldquo;What do you fear?&rdquo; they spoke of domestic breakups, nuclear war, cancer, financial failure in U.S. economy and more.&nbsp; If I had been asked that question at 12-14 years of age I would have been concerned about my English teacher, the removal of the Lone Ranger from television and that the football season would end.&nbsp; Teenagers today are much more globally oriented.</p>
<p>We have major issues in America today.&nbsp; Teenage suicide is paramount, but I believe that teenage suicide; teenage alcoholism; teenage promiscuity; teenage eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia; and teenage runaways are symptoms of an even more serious problem.&nbsp; This is the essence of what I want to communicate in my blog for the next few weeks.</p>
Mon, 02 May 2016 21:27:52 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/youth-at-riskWhat is Your Life?http://sapacap.com/dayly-design/what-is-your-life<div><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Dr. James Dobson once commented that people spend their lives looking for success, then “they realize too late that they have frantically climbed the ladder of success, only to discover that it was leaning against the wrong wall.”</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Jack Anderson, the famed syndicated columnist spoke on my college campus. &nbsp;Over and over again he said that “there are no easy answers” to the problems in our world, as an idealistic college student, I thought, Yes, there are, you just don’t know them. &nbsp;I soon found out he was right.</div><div><br></div><div>Since each of us has to live in a world with no easy answers, I suggest that we find some solid solutions to the major question of all, what is your life?</div><div><br></div><div>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>You can choose to be what you want to be. &nbsp;We are often told we can be and should be your own person and do your own thing your own way without thought or responsibility to others.</div><div><br></div><div>As a child, I remember well the advice of Jiminy Cricket who said, “Always let your conscience be your guide.” &nbsp;I was bothered by that, because I know that I am not always right. &nbsp;I need to have someone who is more mature and disciplined than I am to help me with the significant decisions in life.</div><div><br></div><div>One young man with an economic priority came to Jesus and asked “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him, “Go sell what you have, and give to the poor… and come, follow me.” (Mark 10:17-22). &nbsp;Jesus knew that his man needed to change the economic priority before he could make God his top priority.</div><div><br></div><div>When Jesus stood before Pilate, Pilate saw that Jesus was innocent. &nbsp;However, he chose to operate out of a political priority to save himself from political ruin.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>You might choose a physical, financial or social priority; but when you do, God takes second place.</div><div><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;"><br></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">2.</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">You can choose to be what others want you to be. &nbsp;The person who responds by saying, “We will go,” finds security in group decisions. &nbsp;Charlie Brown was always, for me, and an example of individual with no backbone. &nbsp;He is destroyed by rejection.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>An insecure person can sneak through life this way. &nbsp;He may feel that something is wrong with him and that other people have all the answers. &nbsp;He is willing to try anything someone else suggests. &nbsp;He lets the majority rule. &nbsp;The problem is that the majority is often wrong.</div><div><br></div><div>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>You can be what God wants you to be if you follow His will. &nbsp;Realistically you will combine some of both of the above ideas. &nbsp;You have to have your own identity. &nbsp;You also need social responsibility to others. &nbsp;However, you must determine what your life will be.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the saddest aspects of our current era is that we are the busiest yet most bored people in the world. &nbsp;One suggestion for resolving boredom is to diversify your interests and involvements into areas and activities that are beyond your normal routine. &nbsp;Making a commitment to some idea or goal outside one’s familiar world, finding a new challenge, can end boredom almost immediately.</div><div><br></div><div>I have a challenge to suggest. &nbsp;Give your life to Jesus Christ and become a child of God. &nbsp;This will provide certainty in an uncertain world. &nbsp;You then can be what God wants you be if you seek His will and direction in your life. &nbsp;Be careful of living life in an attitude of false self-confidence. &nbsp;Be careful, you are only like the morning fog, only God is eternal. &nbsp;He knows you and holds the future. &nbsp;He will help you plan better than you can plan for yourself.</div><div><br></div><div>Therefore, when it comes to your future, having success is not as important as being able to answer the question, “What is your Life?’</div>Tue, 23 Jun 2015 15:11:04 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/what-is-your-lifeThanks...For What?http://sapacap.com/dayly-design/thanksfor-what<div>In the year 1687, three ships from England sailed into Chesapeake Bay looking for the perfect spot to build a settlement. &nbsp;They sailed fifty miles up the James River and there amid "fair meadows and goodly tall trees," the more than one-hundred and five men began the colony of Jamestown. &nbsp;Sixteen years later a study of the cost of this colonization was made by England. &nbsp;The costs were high. &nbsp;Of the six-thousand colonists who had taken part in the colonial adventure, four-thousand had died. &nbsp;It had cost England two-hundred thousand pounds with no profit in return. &nbsp;Malaria, bad water, flooding and Indians made Jamestown a difficult place to stay alive. &nbsp;As we enjoy the season of "thanks" living, please don't take our country for granted.</div><div><br></div><div>In 1863 Abraham Lincoln told a nation that was embroiled in self-destruction, "We have forgotten the gracious hand which has preserved and strengthened us, and have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. &nbsp;Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."</div><div><br></div><div>Because of the repetition and commercialization of the holiday season, it's easy to lose the real meaning of the event. &nbsp;We need to remember this Thanksgiving to be grateful. &nbsp;Let us be thankful for the conduct of others. &nbsp;Their expression of redemptive concern. &nbsp;Let us appreciate the compassion of those who care. &nbsp;Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed on a Nazi gallows on April 9, 1945. &nbsp;A few months prior to his death, he wrote these words to his mother in a letter of thanksgiving, "Thank you for all the love you have brought into my cell during the past year. &nbsp;It has made every day easier to bear.... May God keep you well. &nbsp;With loving wishes, dear, dear Mother, for a happy.... Your grateful Dietrich.</div><div><br></div><div>My encyclopedia says, "Thanksgiving has become an established American custom, although the devotional observances of early days has given way largely to sports, recreation, family reunions and feasting." &nbsp;Let us pause to be grateful for physical well-being; for our physical and material blessings; grateful for a new purpose in the immediate future, bright with hope; grateful for restored relationships with family and friends.</div><div><br></div><div>There is nothing harder than to be consistently thankful. &nbsp;All of us have a hard time maintaining an attitude of gratitude, that mind set, that demeanor, that disposition of a thankful heart.</div><div><br></div><div>Maybe you have been selling thanksgiving short! &nbsp;It is such a powerful resource for living and yet we relegate it to one day a year. &nbsp;But if we can learn to rejoice and be thankful in everything, we can make Thanksgiving a holiday for every day!</div>Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:49:58 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/thanksfor-whatA Lost Sense of Reverence!http://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-lost-sense-of-reverenceWinston Churchill was seldom at a loss for words. &nbsp;Whether making a brief comment to the press or delivering a lengthy address before the British Parliament, Churchill distinguished himself as a master of the English language. &nbsp;In absolute frustration, he appraised his situation like this: "It's a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." &nbsp;That's about as complicated as it can get.<div><br></div><div>But that's also an apt description of many things in our lives today. &nbsp;Our nation is being shaken with current events. &nbsp;We are beginning to realize that our attitude and perception of life has become too careless and indifferent. &nbsp;We are becoming aware that God is no plaything and that our relationship to Him, as a nation, is not just kid's stuff. &nbsp;In awe we realize that God is a mysterious force that demands to be treated with respect and reverence. &nbsp;We may well need to think of the divine with a fresh sense of fear and trembling. &nbsp;This is a time of national self-examination. &nbsp;The Creator of the cosmos may be more unapproachable, mysterious and uncontrollable than we have been led to believe. &nbsp;In our cozy comfort we have lost the significance of what is holy,</div><div><br></div><div>Someone has pointed out that any attempt to discuss and explore the concept of reverence is like washing an elephant. &nbsp;You never really know where to start! &nbsp;The primary difference for us is that both the word and the concept it represents have fallen on some very hard times. &nbsp;You never hear of holiness or reverence outside the church. &nbsp;How do you find categories that the modern mind will understand which also adequately explain the idea of reverence?</div><div><br></div><div>The whole issue is somewhat ironic. &nbsp;We often speak of God with occasional irreverence. &nbsp;We make jokes and funny movies about the power of the divine. &nbsp;We market God in books and magazines and on television, as if He were some sort of cosmic cosmetic or divine detergent. &nbsp;We plaster His very name on billboards and bumper stickers. &nbsp;The irony is that we have such a limited sense of the holy.</div><div><br></div><div>Some have said to me: "So what? &nbsp;What have we lost if we lose the capacity for reverence?" &nbsp;Not long ago I read a news report of vandalism in a cemetery. &nbsp;A group of motorcycle riders had backed over headstones, did drugs and partied on the graves. &nbsp;One elderly man trying to repair his wife's grave was overheard asking, "Is nothing sacred anymore?" &nbsp;It's a fair question, and it points us to a deeper issue - nothing is sacred or special when there is no understanding of reverence.</div><div><br></div><div>We my talk about the sacredness of the family, the sanctity of man's word, and the dignity of human life - but those are empty phrases in a world where there is no respect.</div><div><br></div><div>In these present times we who are usually so self-confident, so secure in our ability to control things which matter most in our lives, suddenly we discover they are beyond our control. &nbsp;At the limit of our own power, we turn to a power greater than ourselves.</div><div><br></div><div>In many ways, God will always be a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. &nbsp;But in His irresistible love He reminds us of the importance of respect.</div>Fri, 24 Oct 2014 20:36:49 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-lost-sense-of-reverenceRemember!http://sapacap.com/dayly-design/remember<p class="MsoNormal">Under normal circumstances one never forgets anything.&nbsp; The human brain functions as a high-fidelity
recorder, putting on tape every experience from the time of birth and possibly
before.&nbsp; A person uses only about ten
percent of his twelve billion brain cells in normal everyday operations.&nbsp; The remainder of those cells serve as banks
into which are stored memories of every single word, smell, touch, taste,
thought, emotion and dream you have experienced.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Things that cause too much pain or distress to recall, a
person just pushes back over the threshold of consciousness.&nbsp; Often we need to make a conscious effort to
remember some things we would just as soon forget.<br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The whole world was stunned when a few year ago two
professors at Emory University, in the department of religion, announced that
God is dead.&nbsp; These men said that it was
no longer necessary to believe in God because modern science can explain most
of the known universe without reference to a divine being.&nbsp; Further, they said, it was no longer possible
to believe in God because current science has shown that nothing is real unless
one can weigh, measure, look at and test it.&nbsp;
Also, they added, it is no longer meaningful to believe in God because
man “has come of age”; out-grown the childish myths of heaven, hell, creation
and a creator.&nbsp; Therefore, concluded
these theorists, God is dead and died in our current era.<br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As much as I disagree with both of these individuals and
their conclusion, I must admit for millions of people God is dead – or may as
well be dead for all the attention they pay Him.&nbsp; God may exist, but these people want Him to
stay out of their lives and leave them alone!<br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who would be wise will live every moment of every day in
the conscious awareness that we are to work a concentrated effort to
acknowledge God in all our ways with the awareness that someday we will give an
account of every deed and “hidden thing” unto Him.<br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who would be wise must make a deliberate effort to
remember.<br></p><p class="MsoNormal">Remember to click on the "2014 Annual Meeting" tab. &nbsp;The tab will be updated as details of the September 15-17, 2014 meeting are finalized.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Remembering you,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bill Day</p>Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:50:16 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/rememberWhat's the Problem?http://sapacap.com/dayly-design/whats-the-problem<div>Underage drinking is often a problem that is over-looked in our effort to deal with the reality of drugs yet it impacts millions of teenagers. &nbsp;The use of alcohol among young people is pervasive: 68 percent of all students in grades 7-12 have had at least one alcoholic drink, and 51 percent (or 12.6 million) have had at least one drink within the past year. &nbsp;Eight million (or 38 percent) of all students in junior and senior high school drink alcohol weekly. &nbsp;About nine of every ten high school seniors have tried alcohol, and nearly six out of ten are regular users of alcohol.</div><div><br></div><div>Recent data indicate that high school seniors who use alcohol are more likely than non-using peers to approve all other drug use, downplay risks, and report their parents and friends as being more accepting of all other drug use. &nbsp;These practices and attitudes did not spring into being with high school seniority. &nbsp;In fact, many of the most severe users of alcohol probably never even reached their senior high school year in order to be a part of these alarming statistics.</div><div><br></div><div>Most drinking teens, compared with non-drinking peers, have:</div><div>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A greater chance of not learning many of the emotional and social skills necessary for a safe and productive life.</div><div>2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A greater chance of causing an accident or injury to themselves or others.</div><div>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A tendency to experiment with alcohol at an early age and have a greater chance of becoming heavy drinkers during middle and late teens.</div><div>4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A greater chance of getting into trouble with parents, friends and teachers.</div><div>5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A greater likelihood of using other drugs, such as marijuana and tobacco.</div><div>6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A greater chance of engaging in sexual behavior that can put them at risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases.</div><div><br></div><div>Because of the above information and the extreme importance of reaching the teenage population of our nation let us seek to advocate a united message this year that is exciting, dramatic, engaging and understandable. &nbsp;In so doing let us include values and character – qualities that last a life time. &nbsp;Let’s make our message simple, positive and clear. &nbsp;Life is better without alcohol.</div>Tue, 20 May 2014 18:36:53 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/whats-the-problemLest We Forgethttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/lest-we-forget<div>In a memorial service we recall with gratitude those who have gone before us. &nbsp;This is an appropriate and helpful thing to do. &nbsp;However, we also want to remember to appreciate persons prior to their death.</div><div><br></div><div>Gratitude is an emotion for all seasons of the year. &nbsp;It is an attitude we should cultivate and practice frequently. &nbsp;Recall during this month those persons who have contributed to your life: parents; grandparents; an uncle or aunt; teachers; and stalwart Christians. &nbsp;Look for opportunities to affirm them; to express sincere appreciation for what they have meant to you. &nbsp;Don’t wait too long to do so. &nbsp;Value your family and friends now while you may.</div><div><br></div><div>Billy Sunday used to tell his audiences, “If there’s not joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.” &nbsp;Taken at face value, that statement would seem to indicate that if we were ships instead of Christians, many of us would sink.</div><div><br></div><div>Could any of us doubt that a shortage exists of this precious commodity: joy? &nbsp;But even if we admit that a shortage does exist, what can we do about it? &nbsp;I want to encourage you to experience an abundance of joy.</div><div><br></div><div>Joy rises above circumstances because it is the condition of the mind in which our powers are absorbed in some creative task. &nbsp;Joy is a window into the future; it is but a glimpse of what we are destined to experience. &nbsp;You can’t get joy by working at being joyful. &nbsp;Working at it is like working at going to sleep – you wake up instead. &nbsp;Joy is a fruit that Americans eat green. &nbsp;We pluck it too early, before it ripens. &nbsp;To go clutching after it is to lose it.</div><div><br></div><div>I have discovered that the joy of heaven will begin as soon as we attain the character of heaven, and do its duties. &nbsp;The Christian life that is joyless is a discredit to our God and a disgrace to itself.</div><div><br></div><div>Let us in this month of “remembering” accept joy as a gift from God and share it with someone we love.</div>Tue, 20 May 2014 16:21:29 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/lest-we-forgetA Season of Renewalhttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-season-of-renewal<p class="MsoNormal">Easter is such a wonderful day!&nbsp; Churches open overflow rooms to accommodate
the crowds, and major stores close their doors to acknowledge this day of
days!&nbsp; Easter touches something deep
within us.&nbsp; Language strains and stretches
to capture the reality it represents.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Easter affirms that there is life after death.</u>&nbsp; Sure death is inevitable, but Easter argues
that there is life beyond the grave.&nbsp;
That strong affirmation has been sensed and seized, especially in the
trauma of tragedy and in the pain of separation.&nbsp; Easter shows that death is not the end.&nbsp; It has a sequel.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Easter affirms that there is life after birth.</u>&nbsp; This earth-shattering event involves more
than life beyond the crypt!&nbsp; It has to do
with life beyond the crib as well.&nbsp;
Because He lives, Easter affirms that you can be victorious over all
that would entomb you – criticism, cynicism, despair and despondency.&nbsp; Whatever those early followers of Jesus were
running to announce on that first Easter, they wanted to make it known that God
had not given up on His creature man.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u>Easter does not argue; it affirms.</u>&nbsp; Easter invites us to experience that same
power that brought forth Jesus Christ from the grave.&nbsp; Because He lives there is life beyond the
cradle and the crypt.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May God bless you in a special way throughout the days of
the Easter season.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Mon, 14 Apr 2014 16:23:23 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-season-of-renewalAn Easter Point of Viewhttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/an-easter-point-of-view<p class="MsoNormal">If I were God and had to work out a plan for drawing
humankind’s attention from the basement of worries over food, shelter and
clothing, to the attic of faith and devotion, I think I would have chosen a
different way than to hang my Champion-Son on a cosmopolitan tree.<br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Admit it.&nbsp; Even all of
the excitement generated over the Easter news of the Resurrection cannot
completely remove the barbs from our feelings about Christ dying on the
cross.&nbsp; We happen to want our victories
to be clear and concise.&nbsp; Let them be
sure from the outset.&nbsp; Let them be
painless and let them avoid all hint of suffering in the achievement.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My problem is my outlook.&nbsp;
I view the picture in terms of life and death.&nbsp; God looks at it in terms of death and
life.&nbsp; In fact, that’s the Easter point
of view.&nbsp; And it works!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you believe it?&nbsp;
You can if you will not allow your conclusions to get in the way of
God’s facts.&nbsp; For he uses death, defeat,
and despair to announce the glorious news that, when everyone is sure the last
thing has been said, He has more to say.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A little girl was sure she knew her Bible better than anyone
else in her Sunday school class.&nbsp; When
one of her classmates was reciting the books of the Bible, she broke in and
announced, “The Bible doesn’t end with Timothy; it ends with Revolutions!”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I pray that you may discover the Easter point of view that
revolutions happen when life begins in death!<o:p></o:p></p>Wed, 09 Apr 2014 14:37:01 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/an-easter-point-of-viewThe Reality of the Resurrectionhttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/the-reality-of-the-resurrection<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%">Without the resurrection
Christianity would have little ultimate uniqueness.&nbsp; While the resurrection will undoubtedly be
the theme of Easter sermons and songs, here too is the truth that brightens all
the gospel proclamation.&nbsp; Every Sunday is
Easter, the day of resurrection.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="line-height: 115%;">How unfortunate it is that we too
often allow other concerns to become dominant in our lives to the neglect of
the reality of the resurrection.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">This is
especially true when we consider its place of prominence throughout the New
Testament.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The pages of gospel
literature go far beyond a mere memorial to a dead leader; it announces boldly
a unified witness to the risen Christ.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">&nbsp;
The resurrection is the most profound truth of all the ages, the glad
good news that brings victory to all God’s people.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The more violent and unstable our
world becomes, the more important it is to emphasize the security we know in
Christ because of the resurrection.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">All
of us, indeed the whole of creation, will someday die.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">I will be the first to admit that no clear
blueprint is drawn in the New Testament about the afterlife.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jesus came back from the dead but told
nothing of what life was like on the other side.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">&nbsp; What we have is the mandate to live
faithfully before God in life and in death, and the confidence the Bible
provides for those who pursue life by faith and not by sight.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The reality of the resurrection is
our ultimate hope and gives to us a sense of permanence and certainty in the
increasing impermanence and uncertainty of our world.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Hope in a dying world is ours to give.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%">Have a wonderful resurrection
celebration!<o:p></o:p></p>Fri, 04 Apr 2014 19:25:42 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/the-reality-of-the-resurrection"I never think about it. I just slide!"http://sapacap.com/dayly-design/i-never-think-about-it--i-just-slide<p class="MsoNormal">When I coached high school baseball teams I always enjoyed a
good story about former greats of the game, especially those with a significant
meaning.&nbsp; I recall that in 1928 Carl Sandburg
interviewed Babe Ruth for the <u>Chicago Daily News</u>. &nbsp;Sandburg wondered what his “system” was for
hitting so many home runs.&nbsp; Ruth said all
he knew was, when he saw a good one coming over the plate, he socked it.&nbsp; “I get back to the dugout and they ask me
what it was I hit and I tell’em I don’t know except it looked good.” he added.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In twenty-four seasons, Ty Cobb played more games (3,033),
made more hits (4,191), scored more runs (2,244), and stole more bases than any
other player.&nbsp; At the end of one season,
a group of sports writers told him they had counted eleven different ways for sliding
into second base.&nbsp; “At what point between
first and second do you decide which of those eleven ways you’ll use?”&nbsp; His reply. “I never think about it.&nbsp; I just slide!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hope that the beginning of the baseball season encourages
you to realize that some leaders fiddle around, waiting for the perfect way or
time to begin a new approach to an old problem, reach more people with
information or to introduce a new concept.&nbsp;
Then along comes someone who’s not afraid to try, to experiment, to dare
to “slide into second” and sometimes they succeed!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I pray for you to have great success in new ventures in the
days of this beautiful season of growth and gain.&nbsp; Know that if I can help in any way in what
you seek to accomplish I am here to assist whenever possible.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Mon, 31 Mar 2014 18:36:52 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/i-never-think-about-it--i-just-slideHow To Get Ahead!http://sapacap.com/dayly-design/how-to-get-ahead<div>As businesses around the nation prepare to take inventory this month, it would be good for us to take stock of our own individual life. &nbsp;As I check my own life, I am encouraged by some things I encounter and discouraged by others. &nbsp;All in all, I know that I seek greater spiritual maturity in this New Year.<br></div><div>How can I become more than I am spiritually and emotionally? &nbsp;There are three keys I see in moving upward and onward.</div><div><br></div><div>1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A dissatisfaction with the present. &nbsp;Whatever my level of spiritual attainment I must sense that I have not attained my personal goal. &nbsp;Dissatisfaction with the present spurs us on to higher achievement and development. &nbsp;Every great gain grows out of dissatisfaction. &nbsp;No one who is satisfied with the present will ever move beyond where he is.</div><div>2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>A good memory is quite valuable, but a good “forgetter” may be even more valuable. &nbsp;A person must forget the past if he or she is to make progress in life. &nbsp;No one can move forward while hitched to the past. &nbsp;We need to forget what is behind us. &nbsp;Dig a mental grave and bury the failures to which we are fettered. &nbsp;Few things stunt growth more than brooding over past failures. Everyone has a few skeletons in the closets of memory. &nbsp;It is good to put aside how you did not measure up last year. &nbsp;Now is the time to try again. &nbsp;It is no use to be forever doing nothing because you once did badly.</div><div>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Getting ahead in the New Year means seeking and setting for yourself a new goal. &nbsp;Often people do not improve at whatever they do because they try to do too many things at once. &nbsp;Purpose and power are found in the fulfillment of God’s will in your life.</div><div><br></div><div>I read in a gun magazine recently, “Send me one dollar, and I will tell you how to keep any gun from scattering buckshot.” &nbsp;My neighbor had a shotgun that would put buckshot in every plank on the side of his barn from 20 feet away so he sent in the dollar. &nbsp;A week later he got the answer. &nbsp;“Load your shells with just one shot!” &nbsp;He may have felt cheated, but he wasn't. &nbsp;He who wants to move ahead this year powerfully must load life with one supreme purpose. &nbsp;Good luck in finding yours.</div>Mon, 31 Mar 2014 18:37:08 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/how-to-get-aheadThe Year for Accountability!http://sapacap.com/dayly-design/the-year-for-accountabilityAs a car owner, I periodically take my automobile in for maintenance. &nbsp;This check-up ensures the smooth performance of my mode of transportation. &nbsp;Without it how limited I would be. &nbsp;Every year I have a complete physical check-up to make sure everything is in proper working condition. &nbsp;In addition to a physical exam I watch my diet and do exercises to care for my well being. &nbsp;This is preventive medicine.<div><br></div><div>So often the thing that goes wrong with my care or my body is the result of one key issue - neglect. &nbsp;No maintenance, no check-up. &nbsp;No accountability. &nbsp;Boy, that's a very significant word. &nbsp;As we begin this new year it's a good time to do a "check-up" in our relationships, work accountability and preventive maintenance for our productivity.</div><div><br></div><div>Accountability is a facet of every life. &nbsp;We need this in our marriages, homes and the workplace. &nbsp;For our professional lives we do not just drop in on Monday morning when we so desire. &nbsp;There is a certain time with a certain number of hours and often a quota of accomplishment &nbsp;- our output is in large part dependent on accountability.</div><div><br></div><div>Accountability motivates insight. &nbsp;There is something important about realizing that someday we will have to give an account of ourselves to someone about what we have or have not done. &nbsp;The result is that we become more conscientious about our investment of time, energy and resources. &nbsp;In this new year let's become more truthful, transparent and touchable as we seek to be faithful unto our God and fellowmen.</div>Mon, 06 Jan 2014 17:23:39 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/the-year-for-accountabilityCooperation - A Game Plan for Lifehttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/cooperation---a-game-plan-for-lifeThere are some truths that work and cooperation is a leading principle that should be a part of our game plan for life. &nbsp;Sure, competition is evident everywhere we go. &nbsp;But this kind of win-lose lifestyle eventually disintegrates into a destructive design. &nbsp;Often we compromise to just get by but that too doesn't get the job done. &nbsp;When we begin to feel burned out or burned up we often become complacent. &nbsp;This may cause us to capitulate, to quit and then stop all of our efforts - we come to the end of ourselves and we experience a cancellation.<div><br></div><div>The point I am trying to make is no matter what last-year was and how you may have ended the calendar, this year can be a time of transformation and renewal. &nbsp;You can be a part of a winning team effort. &nbsp;No matter where you are or what the past has been it's never too late for a new beginning.</div><div><br></div><div>Be sensitive to the potential of a fresh outlook. &nbsp;Don't be overcome with remorse or regret. &nbsp;Be aware of a mutually productive perspective with those in your work place. &nbsp;Let's work together to encourage and affirm those throughout our organization.</div><div><br></div><div>Be supportive as we bond together to accomplish in unity what may not be done individually. &nbsp;Defending our cause, taking up for each other is the cement that bonds us and brings success.</div><div><br></div><div>Be sensible, use just plain old common sense to be positive, powerful and productive. &nbsp;Good leaders are sometime perceived to be hard-driven when what you may seek is to motivate others to be more productive. &nbsp;Being sensible, using common sense is a must in making this your best year ever. &nbsp;Get smart, make a new start. &nbsp;Let us at ACAP stand together and know that when the times are difficult we can count on each other for support and encouragement.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Mon, 06 Jan 2014 17:03:53 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/cooperation---a-game-plan-for-lifeThrough the Eyes of a Childhttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/through-the-eyes-of-a-childDuring this Christmas season I have decided to look at everything through the eyes of a child: the tree, the lights, the songs, the smells, the brightly colored presents, the decorated houses - everything. &nbsp;Lost in the wonder of it all, I believe a child would whisper five simple requests:<div><br></div><div>1. Slow Down - The special joy of Christmas is spending extra time with folks you love.</div><div>2. Stay Home - Popcorn enjoyed in front of the fireplace and look at the lights on the tree. &nbsp;Home is the place to be. &nbsp;Children love the security and solitude of that retreat. &nbsp;Spend your time at home this Christmas.</div><div>3. Tell Stories - Storytelling has almost been discarded from our modern scene. &nbsp;Nevertheless, the child in all of us urges, "Tell me a story." &nbsp;Don't forget the original Christmas story.</div><div>4. Have Fun - Joy becomes the season. &nbsp;Every child loves to play. &nbsp;So play! &nbsp;Let's take our cues from the young and do things that will bring back the joy.</div><div>5. Give Yourself - Sure is easy to substitute store-bought things for the gen-u-ine thing - YOU.. &nbsp;Think of ways to extend expressions of yourself to folks who could use encouragement.</div><div><br></div><div>These suggestions are neither sophisticated nor expensive, but since when do children care about either?</div><div><br></div><div>You'll be glad you made this Christmas a child's Christmas.&nbsp;</div>Fri, 13 Dec 2013 17:24:38 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/through-the-eyes-of-a-childA Call to Avoid Detourshttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-call-to-avoid-detoursAs a young boy, I was the proud owner of an attractive scout knife. &nbsp;The knife had three blades, plus a can opener, a gimlet, a corkscrew, a nail file and a miniature pair of scissors. &nbsp;The whole thing cost only a dollar, but it was not worth a dime. &nbsp;The knife was so versatile that it was ineffective. &nbsp;None of the individual parts worked well enough to stand alone. &nbsp;Versatility can be a plus, but frequently it results in a lack of depth.<div><br></div><div>Individuals who excel have a tendency to focus on a few key values and objectives, which enable them to keep a concentration on the top priorities. &nbsp;I have a sign in my den that reads "Keep off the detours." &nbsp;So many times in life I have had to yank myself off a detour and back onto the main road. &nbsp;I have discovered that even good things can rob me of that which is best.</div><div><br></div><div>As we wind down this wonderful year, God calls us all to evaluate the talents and skills He has given us. &nbsp;We need to reevaluate our goals and purpose and pursue them with single-minded continuity avoiding the distractions that would pull us in many directions.</div><div><br></div><div>The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing.&nbsp;</div>Fri, 13 Dec 2013 17:26:29 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-call-to-avoid-detoursA Christmas Recipehttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-christmas-recipeAlmost everyone has a favorite Christmas recipe or a favorite Christmas food. &nbsp;I want to share with you a Christmas recipe I found most delightful.<div><br></div><div>First of all, take Jesus as the primary ingredient of Christmas. &nbsp;It is so easy to miss the real meaning of Advent through the hurry and scurry of the celebration of this season of the year. &nbsp;Recognize that Jesus Christ must be the supreme focus of this wonderful Christmas celebration.</div><div><br></div><div>Next, stir in the details of His birth. &nbsp;The Gospel narratives telling us about the events at Bethlehem are so brief. &nbsp;I could seek more details but the information is complete in numerous ways.</div><div><br></div><div>I love the story of the shepherds tending their flocks at night. &nbsp;The wonder and amazement of heavenly host that in Bethlehem a child had been born of a virgin. &nbsp;I love the wise men who gave their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. &nbsp;I love the manger scenes of Mary and Joseph looking at a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. &nbsp;Stir in the details of the birth of Jesus as you share in the joy, meaning and fulfillment of Christmas.</div><div><br></div><div>Add a personal experience of faith and trust. &nbsp;Christmas is more that just a story event. &nbsp;Maybe the thing you need most to mix in your celebration this season is your personal commitment to the Lord Jesus and the wonderful will of God for each of our lives.</div><div><br></div><div>The last element in this recipe is "serve with joy to the world." &nbsp;The angel said to Joseph, "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." &nbsp;Jesus, Jesus, Jesus the sweetest name I know. &nbsp;Jesus is the primary, essential ingredient of a joyful, happy and meaningful Christmas.</div><div><br></div><div>May that be yours to experience and share this year!</div>Fri, 13 Dec 2013 17:27:07 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-christmas-recipeThe Reality of Truthhttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/the-reality-of-truth<h2 style="margin: 10px 0px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px; color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; letter-spacing: normal; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: justify; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">We live in an era where there is increasing opposition to truth. &nbsp;The postmodern worldview is opposed to the concept of absolute truth; this age is subjective, culturally relative and socially constructed. &nbsp;Anyone who claims to know universal truth is written off as outdated imperialists. &nbsp;But our task in ACAP is to proclaim an eternal, trans-cultural, and unchanging truth. &nbsp;Bound by a priceless pledge of fidelity to all we know to be truth and with hearts filled with thankfulness and faithfulness we make the commitment to reach toward the high calling of truth for the glory of God and the good of men. &nbsp;Let us continue to press on!!</span><br></h2>Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:39:42 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/the-reality-of-truthDon’t Look Backhttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/dont-look-back<h2 style="margin: 10px 0px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px; color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; letter-spacing: normal; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: justify; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">I remember a time in my life when I was tired and almost quit. &nbsp;It was my second year in graduate school. &nbsp;Bills were piling up and the workload was unbearable. &nbsp;I almost quit. &nbsp;Do you ever ask yourself, “Why do I put up with all of this?” &nbsp;Working with others often results in strained relationships, disappointments, even pain. &nbsp;All of us will sometimes dream of what life was like before we were so committed to our present work.</span><br></h2><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941); text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941); text-align: justify;">The lesson for quitters is clear. &nbsp;Don’t look back to a better time; the comfort zone is a myth. &nbsp;Don’t look for pleasant perks; the compelling force in your life must be a love for the best in Christ. &nbsp;Don’t look at others; the comparison game always disappoints. &nbsp;Don’t miss God’s best. &nbsp;You will never know the exciting future of growing significance for your Lord if you quit. &nbsp;Don’t quit!</div>Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:39:10 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/dont-look-backGratitude, an Attitudehttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/gratitude-an-attitude<h2 style="margin: 10px 0px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px; color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; letter-spacing: normal; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-align: justify; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Most of us are thankful for a variety of special and personal concerns, but we also hold apparent gratitude for something uniquely ours. &nbsp;Daniel Webster thanked God just for the blessing of being an American. &nbsp;George Matheson, the blind Scottish pastor, apologized to God for not being thankful for his “thorn in the flesh,” while Mark Twain says through one of Huckleberry Finn’s characters: “Let us be thankful for fools. &nbsp;But for them the rest of us could not succeed.”</span><br></h2><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941); text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941); text-align: justify;">Thanksgiving is not just a national holiday; it is the heart of the Christian life. &nbsp;It is the portrayal of a deep seated appreciation for all of life. &nbsp;Attitude is the beginning point. &nbsp;Little children could do much to teach us this perspective. &nbsp;Listen to them pray. &nbsp;They thank God for everything – sunshine, grass trees, food, homes, moms and dads. &nbsp;They fully understand everything is a gift from God.</div><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941); text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941); text-align: justify;">Attitude ought to produce action. &nbsp;Thanksgiving involves what we say and what we do, our words and our ways. &nbsp;We ought to express thanksgiving by lip and life. &nbsp;One without the other is hollow. &nbsp;Both evidence the spirit of gratitude everyone rejoices to see. &nbsp;Let’s share it throughout this wonderful season.</div>Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:38:26 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/gratitude-an-attitudeA Challenge to Excellencehttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-challenge-to-excellence<h2 style="margin: 10px 0px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px; color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; letter-spacing: normal; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">There are a few people who have greatness thrust upon them. &nbsp;Most achieve it. &nbsp;I have discovered that the accomplishment of excellence involves discipline and passion of purpose.</span><br></h2><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);">The dictionary defines excellence as "superior," above the standard, far beyond what is expected. &nbsp;The desire for excellence is divine spark, implanted in the human heart to mimic God - to do as He does. &nbsp;Excellence means "the very finest." &nbsp;It takes hard work and constant commitment to excel, but you can do it.</div><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);">The pursuit of excellence is not just for a privileged few, the superstar or genius. &nbsp;It is for you - whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you do. &nbsp;It's the quality of what you do that counts, not your occupation. &nbsp;Join me in this last month of the year to make the achievement of excellence part of your life. &nbsp;I promise that it will change you and the world around you.</div><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(133, 127, 118); font-family: 'PT Sans'; background-color: rgba(246, 246, 245, 0.952941);"><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">Gratitude, an Attitude</i><br></h2><div><span style="text-align: justify; background-color: transparent;">Most of us are thankful for a variety of special and personal concerns, but we also hold apparent gratitude for something uniquely ours. &nbsp;Daniel Webster thanked God just for the blessing of being an American. &nbsp;George Matheson, the blind Scottish pastor, apologized to God for not being thankful for his “thorn in the flesh,” while Mark Twain says through one of Huckleberry Finn’s characters: “Let us be thankful for fools. &nbsp;But for them the rest of us could not succeed.”</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanksgiving is not just a national holiday; it is the heart of the Christian life. &nbsp;It is the portrayal of a deep seated appreciation for all of life. &nbsp;Attitude is the beginning point. &nbsp;Little children could do much to teach us this perspective. &nbsp;Listen to them pray. &nbsp;They thank God for everything – sunshine, grass trees, food, homes, moms and dads. &nbsp;They fully understand everything is a gift from God.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Attitude ought to produce action. &nbsp;Thanksgiving involves what we say and what we do, our words and our ways. &nbsp;We ought to express thanksgiving by lip and life. &nbsp;One without the other is hollow. &nbsp;Both evidence the spirit of gratitude everyone rejoices to see. &nbsp;Let’s share it throughout this wonderful season.</div><div><br></div><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px;"><i>Don’t Look Back</i></h2><div><span style="text-align: justify; background-color: transparent;">I remember a time in my life when I was tired and almost quit. &nbsp;It was my second year in graduate school. &nbsp;Bills were piling up and the workload was unbearable. &nbsp;I almost quit. &nbsp;Do you ever ask yourself, “Why do I put up with all of this?” &nbsp;Working with others often results in strained relationships, disappointments, even pain. &nbsp;All of us will sometimes dream of what life was like before we were so committed to our present work.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The lesson for quitters is clear. &nbsp;Don’t look back to a better time; the comfort zone is a myth. &nbsp;Don’t look for pleasant perks; the compelling force in your life must be a love for the best in Christ. &nbsp;Don’t look at others; the comparison game always disappoints. &nbsp;Don’t miss God’s best. &nbsp;You will never know the exciting future of growing significance for your Lord if you quit. &nbsp;Don’t quit!</div><div><br></div><h2 style="margin: 10px 0px; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px;"><i>The Reality of Truth</i></h2><div><span style="text-align: justify; background-color: transparent;">We live in an era where there is increasing opposition to truth. &nbsp;The postmodern worldview is opposed to the concept of absolute truth; this age is subjective, culturally relative and socially constructed. &nbsp;Anyone who claims to know universal truth is written off as outdated imperialists. &nbsp;But our task in ACAP is to proclaim an eternal, trans-cultural, and unchanging truth. &nbsp;Bound by a priceless pledge of fidelity to all we know to be truth and with hearts filled with thankfulness and faithfulness we make the commitment to reach toward the high calling of truth for the glory of God and the good of men. &nbsp;Let us continue to press on!!</span></div></div>Thu, 12 Dec 2013 18:37:31 GMThttp://sapacap.com/dayly-design/a-challenge-to-excellence